Kidney Cysts Symptoms and What Causes Kidney Cysts

February 6, 20170 Comments1250 Views

Kidney Cysts are round shaped fluid filled pouches that generally form on the surface of kidneys or inside kidneys. Most common type of kidney cysts are simple kidney cysts, which are non-cancerous and rarely cause complications, if any.

Most commonly only one cyst occurs on the surface of a kidney. However, multiple cysts can affect one or both kidneys and they can occur inside kidneys. Kidney cysts are usually detected during imaging (ultrasound, CT scan etc.) done for some other medical conditions, as they usually cause no symptoms at all. Simple kidney cysts that do not have any symptoms require no treatment and should be left as they are. However, one should be clear that simple kidney cysts are different from polycystic kidney disease, which need appropriate management, unlike simple kidney cysts. However, sometimes kidney cysts can be associated with other serious medical conditions and interfere with normal functioning of kidneys and the underlying medical condition need to be treated to get symptom relief.

What symptoms can occur from kidney cysts?

Most of the kidney cysts are usually simple kidney cysts and occur as a solitary cyst. Simple kidney cysts usually produce no symptoms and do not interfere with normal kidney function. However, in some cases a simple kidney cyst may grow into a large cyst and produce symptoms. The symptoms of such kidney cyst can be

Pain in upper abdomen

It may cause fever

Dull type of pain in back or side (usually on the side of the cyst)

What can cause kidney cyst?

The cause of simple kidney cyst is not known. However, some suggest that simple kidney cyst may develop when surface layer (covering of kidney) may become weak (for some reason) and form a pouch (can be called a diverticulum). This pouch or diverticulum then is filled up by fluid and it separates/detaches from kidney and become a cyst. But there is no clear proof for this theory.

What increases risk of kidney cyst?

The risk of simple kidney cyst increases as your age increases, although simple kidney cyst can occur to anyone at any age. Another risk factor is male gender. For unknown reason simple kidney cysts are more common among men.